Camera



Feb. 18, 1941.

C. F. JONES l CAMERA Original Filed Feb. 7, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 1N VEN TOR.

ATTORNEY.

Feb. 18, 1941. C, F, JONES 2,232,240

CAMERA Original Filed Feb. '7, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 di? 47) MW 4/ f. 4

INVENTOR, Char/9J Jane@ @www ATTORNEY.

Patented Feb. 18, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CAMERA Original application February '7, 1936, Serial No.

Divided and this application March 27, 1939, Serial No. 264,325

6 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in photographic apparatus of the kind adapted for use in producing X-ray or other kinds of photographs, whereby successivey exposures of varying durations may be made at irregular intervals.

This application is a division of my copending application, Serial No. 62,807, filed February '7, H336, 'now Patent No. 2,166,440, issued July 18, 1939, wherein is shown one adaptation of this camera as applied to the making of X-ray photographs.

In the making of X-ray photographs, it is often desirable to make a series of photographs showing the passage of liquids, etc., through the body, and the action of various organs of the body. To do this, the photographs should be taken at intervals as the action progresses, and it is desirable for the operator t0 be able to control the time of the exposure and effect the advancing of the lm with one switch which may be operated by hand, foot, or other convenient means.

In order to aord means for accomplishing these results, I have provided improved photographic apparatus for use in taking X-ray or other kinds of pictures whereby a series of successive exposures of a sensitized cinematographic film may be made and the length of each v exposure and the interval between the different exposures may be varied at will. By using ordinary motion picture nlm, a large number of small pictures can be made at a very low cost, and after they are developed up, the entire roll can be projected upon an ordinary motion picture viewing screen, or if preferred enlargements can be made of all or part of the various negatives depending upon the particular needs of the case.

It is an object oi my invention to provide improved photographie apparatus embodying electrically-operated means controllable by a handoperated switch for operating a camera shutter, whereby a nlm in the camera may be exposed to light rays passing through the camera lens, and electrically-operated means for automatically advancing the lm after each exposure has been entirely completed.

It is also an object of my invention to provide a camera in which the length of time of the exposure is at all times under the direct control of the operator.

It is another object of my invention to provide a camera which may be controlled by an operator at a distance from the camera.

It is afurtber object vof my invention to provide .such a camera. in which double exposures are positively prevented.

Other and further objects of the present invention will be pointed out hereinafter, indicated in the appended claims, or obvious to one skilled 'in the art upon an understanding of the present disclosure. For the purposes of this yapplication, I have elected to show my camera as adapted for use in the taking of X-ray photographs, as disclosed in my copending application, Serial No. 62,807; but it will be apparent that its use is not restricted to this application alone, but may be used in numerous other fields, such as nature Vand wild-life photography, etc.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. l is a side elevation of the interior of a camera constituting part of my improved photographic apparatus,

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section taken at 2 2 of Fig. l,

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section taken at 3-3 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken at -fof Fig. 3,

Fig. 5 is a sectional View ytaken at 5-5 in Fig. 3,

Fig. 6 is a wiring diagram `of the camera,

Fig. '7 is a side elevation, partly in section, of one manner in which my camera may be adapted for use in X-ray photography, and

Fig. 8 is a front elevation of the apparatus of Fig. 7.

Referring now to the drawings and particularly to Figs. 7 and 8, the numeral l designates the bellows or hood of a huoroscope, having a fluorescent screen 2 at its enlarged end upon which are cast the shadows resulting from passing a beam of X-rays through a body to be examined or photographed, a sight opening 3 for viewing the screen, and a mirror 4 for reflecting the image appearing on the screen through a lens tube 5 of a camera.

The camera casing B is preferably of a general rectangular shape and its interior is divided into a plurality of compartments by longitudinallydisposed partition panels l and 8. The partition panels slidably and removably extend into suitable grooves provided in the end walls of the casing, and their primary purposes are to support, respectively, the cameras shutter operating and nlm-advancing mechanisms. The lens tube 5 mounts a suitable camera lens which is aligned with an aperture located in the top side of the camera casing and with similar apertures 'l' and 8 provided respectively in the partition panels 'I and 8. Suitably secured to the panel 8 at points around the aperture 8 therein is an upwardlydisposed hood 9 which has its unattached open end extending in close proximity to and in alignment with the aperture 1 in the panel 1. A

cinematographic film I0 travels in guides II secured to the underneath side of the panel 8 and is positioned to intercept the light rays passing through the camera lens. The guides II may conveniently be made as a hinged backing plate provided with parallel grooves adapted to receive the nlm-advancing pins hereinafter described in detail. A feed magazine 55 is removably supported in one end of the casing 6 immediately below partition plate 8 and a takeup magazine 6I is provided at the other end of the casing to take up the lm after exposure as hereinafter described.

Pivotally mounted as at I2 on the underneath side of the panel "I is a shutter I3 which normally closes the aperture 1. Mounted on the panel 'I at one side of the aperture 'I' is an electromagnet I4 which may be conveniently made as a solenoid having an armature I5, to the end of which is pivotally attached an arm I6 of a bell crank I6. The bell crank is ulcrumed at I'I, and its other arm Ilia is attached to one end of a semi-rigid spring connecting member I8, the opposite end .of the latter being attached to the shutter I3 at 62. As shown, this spring I8 may be formed as a one or two coil spiral with long end portions extending therefrom at approximately or 100 to each other. A spiral spring I9, anchored at one end by a pin 20 to the panel 1, is attached at its opposite end to the arm IEa cf the bell crank, and normally holds the shutter I3 in closed position, i. e. covering the aperture I as shown in full lines in Fig. 2. When the solenoid I4 is energized, its armature I5 is pulled inwardly and rotates the bell crank I6 in a counter-clockwise direction (in Fig. 2) thereby building up stress in the spring I8 which, as the armature approaches the end of its stroke, snaps the shutter I3 to open position against the tension of coil spring I9. When the solenoid is subsequently cie-energized, the distended coil spring I9 pulls the bell crank I6 back to its normal position, causing thek spring I3 to snap the shutter I3 closed. The shutter I3 is prevented by stop members 2I and 22 from being moved beyond certain predetermined limits by the spring I9 and solenoid I4, respectively.

Secured as by screws to the armature I5 is a block 23 which has a spring-pressed ratchet 24 pivotally mounted thereon. The ratchet engages with the periphery of a ratchet wheel 25 which is rotatably mounted on the upper side of the panel 8 on a screw or pin 26. The movement of the armature I5, the block 23, and the ratchet 24 by the spring I9 in an outward direction away from the solenoid, when the latter is zie-energized, causes the ratchet 24 to rotate the ratchet wheel 25 in a clockwise direction (in Fig. 3) for approximately one-eighth of onb revolution. A reverse or counter-clockwise movement of the wheel 25 is prevented by a spring-pressed pawl 2l' engaging with the teeth of the former. The ratchet wheel 25 is provided with four metal contact pins 28 which extend entirely through and beyond the opposite sides of theratchet wheel 25. The pins 28 are positioned approximately ninety degrees apart and are insulated from the wheel by suitable insulating sleeves through which they extend.

Extending from an insulating block 29 secured to the panel 8 are two pair of contact members 33 and 3I` which are positioned to engage with the opposite ends oi contact pins 28. The pair of contact members 30 are electricallyconnected to the solenoid I4 and the contact members 3l are electrically-comnected to an electric motor 32, both the solenoid and motor being also connected in a circuit leading to a source of electrical power. The contact members 30 are adapted to slidably engage with the projecting ends of any one of the pins 28 and thereby complete the circuit to the electro-magnet I 4 which is also electrically-connected to a handoperated switch 33. The contact members 3l are also adapted to contact with any one of the contact pins Z8 and thereby complete the circuit to the electric motor 32. The contact members 35 and 3| are so positioned with respect to each other than when the pair of contact members 3U are in engagement with one of the contact pins 28, the other pair oi contact members 3| are not in engagement with any of the said pins and vice versa. Thus when the circuit to the solenoid I4 is closed the circuit to the motor 32 is open, and vice versa.

The closing of the hand-operated switch 33 completes the circuit through the contact members 35 and the particular pin 28 with which the latter are then engaging to the solenoid I4. The consequent energizing of the solenoid causes the armature I5 to rotate the bell crank IB to open the shutter i3, thus permitting an exposure ol the lm I to be made through apertures 1 and 8. The shutter remains open until the film is sufficiently exposed, at Which time the handoperated switch is opened, and the solenoid being thereby de-energized permits the armature i5 to be withdrawn by the spring I9. The movement of the armature in a direction away from the solenoid not only closes the shutter but causes the ratchet 24 to engage with the teeth of the ratchet wheel 25 and turn the latter approximately an eighth of one revolution in a clockwise direction, (Fig. 3).

where it engages with the contact members 3I, while at the same time the particular pin 28 which was just previously in engagement with the contact members 30 is carried out of engagement therewith. Thus the circuit to the motor 32 is automatically closed immediately after the opening of the circuit to the solenoid.

The closing of the circuit to the motor commences the operation of the film-advancing mechanism, thereby causing a succeeding unexposed frame of the film to be moved at a time when the shutter is closed., into a position where it is in registry with the camera lens and the apertures 'I' and 8 in the panels l and 8. The

motor shaft is secured to a disc 34 on which are provided a plurality of projecting pins that detachably extend into a series of holes arranged in a similar disc 35. The disc 35 is secured to a rotatable shaft 35 which extends through a bear- One of the contact pins 28. is thereby carried by the wheel 25 to a point rod 4| and disc 46 when the latter is rotated by the motor 32. The bar 42 carries a springpressed ratchet 63 which rides over the teeth of the ratchet wheel 25 when the bar is initially moved away from the disc 40, but which engages with the said teeth and causes the turning of the said wheel in a clockwise direction for an eighth of one revolution when it moves back toward the disc 46. The turning of the wheel 25 by the ratchet 63 carries the particular pin 28 then contacting with the contact members 3| out of' engagement with the latter, thereby breaking the circuit to the motor. When the ratchet wheel 25 is moved to disengage the contacting pin 28 and the contact members 3|, another of the said pins 28 is carried into engagement with the contact members 30, thereby again placing the solenoid circuit in a condition where it may be completed by closing the hand-operated switch 33.

As will be seen, a complete revolution of the disc 40 moves the bar 42 rst in one direction for its full stroke and then back again for the same distance in the reverse direction. Pivotally attached as at 4| to the rod 4| is a block 44 which is slid-ably mounted in guides 4'5 secured to the upper side of the panel 8. Secured as by screws 46 to the block k|54 is a plate 41 to which are pivot-ally attached as at 48 a pair of spaced dogs or film-advancing pins 49. The pins movably extend through slots 8a located in the panel 8 and are adapted to enter the perforations of the film I0. ri'he ends of the film-advancing pins are beveled or cut away in such a manner that when they are carried in a direction toward the light opening 8', they freely slide over the film I0 and the periorations along the edges thereof, but when they are moved in an opposite direction, they enter the perforations in the film and move the lm in the same direction. A spring 50 secured to the plate "41 as by one or more of the screws 46 exerts a continual pressure upon the pins, so that their beveled ends Iare held in engagement with the film. So as to prevent the movement of the film ID in a reverse direction when the pins 49 are carried backwardly 'after the said nlm has been advanced thereby, a pair of film-retaining pins beveled at their ends in the same manner as the pins 49 iare positioned to enter the perforations in the film. The pins 5| extend through holes in the panel 8 and are yieldably held by springs 52 in engagement with the film I0. The initial half revolution of the disc 4|] moves the nlm-advancing pins 49 toward the aperture 8 and the ilm is held in position by the retaining pin 5I. The completed rotation of the disc brings the pins back and by reason of their position in the film perforations, moves the lm one frame distance. It will be noted that immediately after the advancing of the film into position for the succeeding exposure, the ratchet wheel 25 is turned so as to break the circuit to the motor 32.

Fastened to the bearing and 'supporting member 31 is a bracket 64 with a laterally-extending arm 65 on which are mounted a pair of pulleys 66 and 61 rotating in a substantially vertical plane and disposed adjacent to a pulley 68 mounted on the end of the vshaft carrying the gear 36 and disc 46. Suitable holes are provided in the panel 8 immediately below the pulleys 66 and 61 to allow a spring belt 69 which is threaded around pulley 68 and pulleys 66 and 61 to pass down to the space below panel 8. A takeup pulley 40 is mounted on the inside of the ycasing 6 immediately below the pulleys 66 and 61 and adjacent the takeup magazine 6|. The takeup pulley Ill is operatively connected to a takeup reel or spindle (not shown) inthe magazine 6|. The

belt y6i! passes over pulley 10 and back up to pulleys '66 and 61 so that rotation of the shaft of disc `4|] will be transferred to the takeup reel through takeup pulley to wind up the exposed nlm 'after it has been advanced past the aperture 8 by means of the nlm-advancing pins 49 as previously set forth. Each of the magazines 6i) and 6| is provided with a light-tight opening through which the nlm passes upon entry or exit so that the magazines may be removed from the camera without danger of fogging the film contained therein.

Without the necessity of a detailed description, it will be readily observed that by the provision of separable connections either or both of the panels 1 and 8, together with the parts yof the apparatus secured thereon, may be conveniently removed from the camera casing after first opening the hinged door 6 at the rear side of the casing, it being understood of course that the door 6 is normally kept closed except when loading and unloading the camera so that `during operation lthe camera is light-tight throughout.

While my invention is illustrated as embodying mechanism for use with cinematographic film, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that by making minor modifications, it may be adapted for use with other types of film strips.

I claim as my invention:

l. A camera which includes: a lens; a shutter associated with said lens; electrically-operated means for actuating said shutter whereby the opening and closing of said shutter are under the control of the operator at all times; means for positioning a sensitized lm in the focal plane of sai-d lens; electrically-operated transporting means for moving 'said nlm; and sequence control means operated by the closing of said shutter to set said nlm-transporting means in operation, and operated by the movement of said iilm transporting means to restore said shutteroperating means to `operative condition, said sequence control means consisting of an insulating disc provided with conducting pins passing therethrough, and spring means adapted to complete the shutter operating means circuit through one of Isaid pins when said disc is in one position, and a second spring means 'adapted to complete the film transporting means circuit through one of said pins when said disc is rotated to a different position, said spring means and said pins being arranged so that one of said circuits is at all times completed but both are not completed at the same time.

2. A camera which includes: a lens; a shutter; means for controlling the operation of said shutter; nlm-advancing mechanism; and sequence control means operated by the closing of said shutter to set said film-advancing mechanism in operation, and operated by the movement of said iilm transporting means to restore said shutter-operating means to operative condition, said sequence control means consisting of an insulating disc provided with conducting pins extending therethrough, and spring means adapted to complete the shutter operating means circuit through one of said pins when said disc is in one position, and a second spring means adapted to complete the lm advancing means circuit through one of said pins when said disc is rotated to a different position, said spring means and said pins being arranged so that one of said circuits is at all times completed, but both are not completed at the same time.

3. A camera which includes: a lens; a shutter associated with said lens; solenoid means for operating said shutter whereby said shutter remains open while said solenoid is energized, and is closed when said solenoid is not energized; means for positioning a sensitized iilm in the focal plane of said lens; electrically-operated reciprocating means vfor moving said film; and sequence control means operated by the closing of said shutter to disconnect said solenoid and to close the circuit of said reciprocating means, and by the return of said reciprocating means to disconnect the latter and to re-connect said solenoid, said sequence control means consisting of a rotating insulated disc provided with circuit making and breaking means.

4. A camera which includes: a lens adapted to form an image on a sensitized lm; a shutter associated with said lens; electrical means for controlling the operation of said shutter; lmadvancing means; electrically driven means for operating said nlm-advancing means, said lmadvancing means and said electrically driven means being at all times mechanically connected; and sequence control means operated by the closing of said shutter for disconnecting the electrical circuit of said shutter-controlling means and closing the electrical circuit of said filmadvancing operating means, and operated by said film advancing means for re-connecting the electrical circuit of said shutter-controlling means vand opening the electrical circuit of said filmadvancing operating means When said lm has been advanced a predetermined distance, said sequence control means consisting of a rotating insulated disc provided with circuit making and breaking means.

5. A camera which includes: a lens adapted to form an image on a sensitized lm; a shutter associated with said lens; electrical means for operating said shutter; a switch controlling said shutter-operating means; electrically driven film-advancing means; and sequence control means operated by the closing of said shutter for disconnecting the electrical circuit of said shutter-operating means and closing the circuit of said nlm-advancing means, and operated by said film advancing means for re-connecting the electrical circuit of said shutter-operating means and opening the circuit of said film-advancing means when said lm has been advanced, said sequence control means consisting of a rotating insulated disc provided with circuit making and breaking means.

6. A camera which includes: a lens; a shutter associated with said lens; electromagnetic means for actuating said shutter; a hand controlled switch in the circuit of said shutter actuating means; electrically operated means for advancing a lm past said lens; an insulating disc having a ratchet associated therewith and a plurality of conducting pins passing therethrough; spring means adapted to complete the shutter operating circuit through one of said pins when said disc is in one position; a second spring means adapted to complete the film advancing circuit through one of said pins when said disc is rotated to a diierent position; a pawl carried by said shutter operating means adapted to engage said ratchet and rotate said disc to a position where one of said pins will close said lrn advancing circuit when said shutter is closed; and a pawl carried by said lm advancing means and adapted to engage said ratchet and rotate said disc to a position Where said film advancing circuit is broken and another of said pins will again close said shutter operating circuit after said lm has been advanced a predetermined distance.

CHARLES F. JONES. 

